My interests are broadly focused in surficial geology, particularly in the areas of hydrogeology, glacial geology, and environmental geology. In hydrogeology, my interests lie in water quality problems associated with both point and non-point sources of contamination. Agricultural non-point contamination has been a recent emphasis. Also, for the past several years, I have been mapping the glacial geology in southwestern Michigan in order to work out the stratigraphy and the aquifer relationships and to examine specific problems such as bluff recession along Lake Michigan. 

Educational Background

Ph.D - Geology - University of Idaho, 1977
M.S. - Earth Science - Montana State University, 1971
B.S. - Geology - Bucknell University, 1969

Research Specializations

Hydrogeochemistry of natural and contaminated aquifer systems
Glacial Geology of Southwestern Michigan

Ongoing Projects

1. Hydrogeology coalition with Suez Canal University and South Valley University: This is a US State Department project funded from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchanges. It involves research in the Sinai Peninsula with Suez Canal Univesity to define subsurface conditions pertaining to aquifer occurrence and research in Upper Egypt near Qena to assess groundwater quality in a new irrigation area impacted by sewage effluent.

2. Lake Michigan Bluff dewatering: This project, with Principal Investigator Ron Chase, is funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers. State-of-the-art slope monitoring is being done at three locations near South Haven, Michigan in order to study the processes of bluff failure, including the role of groundwater, and to test multiple dewatering strategies on recession rates.

3. Mapping of the glacial deposits of Allegan County, Michigan: This county is the third to be mapped in a program that has been in progress for nine years. The research is funded by the MDEQ and the US Geological Survey. The purpose is to produce maps useful for land-use planning, location of aggregate resources, well-head protection and other societal needs. An ancillary goal is to develop a better understanding of the stratigraphy, chronology and depositional processes of these glacial materials.

4. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment: This project is part of the dissertation research of Lisa Anderson. The objective is to investigate the fate and transport of various human pharaceutical products in surface and groundwater. The project is funded throught the MDEQ.

Courses Taught

GEOS 600 - Hydrogeochemistry
GEOS 432 - Geomorphology
GEOS 436 - Glacial Geology
GEOS 506 - Introduction to Soils

Selected Publications

1. Kehew, A.E., 2001, Applied Chemical Hydrogeology. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 368p.


2. Chase, R.B., Kehew, A.E., and Montgomery, W.W.  2001. Determination of Slope Dispacement Mechanism and Causes: An Approach using new geometric modeling techniques and climate data: in, Harmon, R.S., and Doe, W.W., III,  eds. Landscape Erosion and Evolution Modeling, Kluwer Academic, New York, p. 57-87.


3. Chase, R.B., Chase, K.E., Kehew, A.E., and Montgomery, W.W. 2001. Determining the kinematics of slope movements using low-cost monitoring and cross-section balancing. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, v. VII, no. 2, p. 193-203.


4. El-Rayes, A.E., Soliman, F.A., Kehew, A.E., and El-Shamy, I.Z. 2001.   Hydrochemical exploration of sulphide mineralization: Application in the Arabo-Nubian Shield, Sinai, Egypt. Wohnlich, S. and Seiler, K.P., eds., New Approaches Characterizing Groundwater Flow, V. 1, A.A. Balkema, Lisse, pg. 49-54. (Proceedings IAH Congress, Sept., 2001).


5. Chowdhury, S.H. and Kehew, A.E. 2003. Correlation between nitrate contamination and ground water pollution potential. Ground Water, v. 41, no. 6, p. 735-745.


6. Unterreiner, G.A. and Kehew, A.E. (in press) Spatial and temporal distribution of herbicides and herbicide degradates in a shallow glacial drift aqufier/surface water system, south central Michigan. Groundwater Monitoring and  Remediation.